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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
[Follow-up study for newborns and infants who failed hearing screening]
Li-Hui Huang1, De-Min Han, Sha Liu
1Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing 100005, China. huanglh@trhos.com
Insights
Infants failing hearing screening require follow-up audiology. Early intervention for severe/profound hearing loss is key, while mild/moderate cases need ongoing monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Newborn hearing screening
- Congenital hearing loss
Context:
- 106 infants who failed initial hearing screening underwent comprehensive audiological evaluations.
- Evaluations included auditory brainstem response, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, and visual reinforcement audiometry.
- The study aimed to characterize hearing in this high-risk infant population.
Purpose:
- To determine the audiological characteristics of newborns and infants who failed initial hearing screening.
- To identify the prevalence and types of hearing loss in this cohort.
- To inform follow-up and intervention strategies.
Summary:
- 61.3% of infants had normal hearing, while 36.8% had hearing loss.
- Conductive hearing loss was identified in 14.2% and sensorineural hearing loss in 22.6%.
- Prevalence of congenital hearing loss was 0.264% (39/14,785); severe/profound loss remained stable, mild/moderate loss showed changes.
Impact:
- Early identification and intervention by 6 months are successful for severe and profound hearing loss.
- Infants with mild and moderate hearing loss require follow-up until 6-8 months with routine audiologic evaluations.
- This study highlights the importance of timely audiological assessment and tailored management plans for infants.
Objective:
To study the audiological characteristics of newborns and infants who failed hearing screening.
Methods:
One hundred and six infants failed hearing screening received follow-up study with routine audiological evaluations (auditory brainstem response, distortion product otoacoustic emission, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry).
Results:
Sixty-five infants (61.3%) of this group were normal hearing subjects and 39(36. 8% ) of the infants had hearing loss. Two cases (1.9%) received follow-up by phone. Fifteen cases (14.2%) with conductive hearing loss and 24 cases (22.6%) with sensorineural hearing loss. Thirteen (12.3%), 14 (13.2%), 6 (5.7%), and 6 (5.7%) cases were found to be mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing loss respectively. Diagnosis of hearing loss in the thirty-nine infants conducted a prevalence of 0.264% (39/14 785) of congenital hearing loss (both binaural and monaural). The hearing level of those cases with severe and profound hearing loss basically did not change, but that of cases with mild and moderate hearing loss changed.
Conclusions:
Early identification and intervention of infants with severe and profound hearing loss by 6 months of age were successful. Infants with mild and moderate hearing loss should be followed up to six or eight months and received routine audiologic evaluations.
